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Richard Leroy “Dick” Perala, 76, of Lake Vermilion, Tower, dies

Submitted by admin on Tue, 11/28/2017 - 16:02

Richard Leroy “Dick” Perala, 76, of Lake Vermilion, Tower, died Sunday, November 26, 2017 at his home. Richard was born March 21, 1941 in Duluth to Betty Perala. He grew up in Makinen and Markham and was a 1959 graduate of Aurora-Hoyt Lakes High School. Richard was united in marriage to Judith Papesh on August 1, 1964 in Virginia. He retired in 2001 after 36 years as a member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 294 in Hibbing. He split his retirement years between his lake place on Vermilion and the homestead farm in Makinen.
Richard is survived by a son, Michael (Lisa) of Virginia, three grandchildren: Anthony (Lucy) of Roseville, Juliann of St. Louis Park, and Jack of Virginia; his companion of the past seventeen years, Peggy Hayden, her daughter Rhonda (Tyler Berg), and her grandchildren, Zachary Gregorich and Landon Paine; brother Kenneth (Toby) Kauppinen, sister Amy Kauppinen, sister-in-law Nancy Kauppinen, several nieces and nephews, and his best dog Kelly.
Richard was preceded in death by his mother Betty in 1981, a son Richard Jacob in 1985, his wife Judy in 2000, a brother Donald (Nancy) Kauppinen in 2010, a sister Karen Kauppinen in 2017, and niece Peggy Kauppinen in 2017.
A gathering of family and friends will be held from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm on Friday, December, 1, 2017 at Range Funeral Home in Virginia. To sign the online guest book, please visit www.rangefuneralhomes.com.